B-J Helps to Raise Over $4m for Charity in Scottsdale

Written by Auction News

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA (February 18, 2009) – The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company recently announced that it helped raise $4.4 million for local and national charities during the 38th annual Scottsdale auction Jan. 11-18, 2009. Funds at the automotive lifestyle event were gathered through the sale of 15 collector vehicles, crowd donations and fundraisers like the Childhelp Drive The Dream Gala. Barrett-Jackson does not collect commissions on vehicles sold entirely for charity.

“Charity fundraising has always been a cornerstone of our Scottsdale event,” said Craig Jackson, Chairman/CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “We helped raise nearly $7 million at our three events in 2008, and started 2009 off with an amazing $4.4 million. We sold some incredible vehicles to collect those charity dollars, including the first production 2010 Camaro and the wild Superbird tribute. I’m proud to carry on the Barrett-Jackson legacy of helping charities that my father and Tom Barrett started nearly 40 years ago.”

One of the highlights of the auction was the sale of the 1970 Plymouth Superbird custom tribute to benefit The Darrell Gwynn Foundation. The crowd roared when NASCAR legend Richard Petty climbed from the driver’s seat and joined the auctioneers at the podium. After intense bidding and generous crowd donations, the Superbird sold for $501,100.

Automakers General Motors and Ford Motor Company also took part in the charity excitement by auctioning the rights to several first retail production vehicles. GM’s first 2010 Chevy Camaro fetched $350,000 for the American Heart Association. Ford auctioned the 2010 Mustang FR500CJ Cobra Jet prototype for $375,000 and the first retail production 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor for $130,000, both to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“Car collectors are among the most giving people in the world,” added Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “And Barrett-Jackson has become a conduit for them to support worthwhile causes. To ensure that charities received the funding they deserve during these tough economic times, we brought together an impressive crop of charity vehicles and bidders who really stepped up for these organizations. We look forward to a successful event in Palm Beach and raising more money for charity there.”

Barrett-Jackson will continue its charity efforts during the 7th annual Palm Beach auction April 9-11, 2009. Scheduled to cross the block is a 1969 RS/SS Camaro custom built by “Super Chevy” magazine and Route 66 Motorsports. Dubbed “Project American Heroes,” all proceeds from the sale of the Camaro will benefit the Armed Forces Foundation.